Anybody else dislike the hairdressers?

[UpUpUpU]

I only go for a haircut every year or so. I usually trim it myself but its is too long now and needs a good cut. I have been googling hairdressers and hovering over the 'book now' buttons for hours!

I just don't enjoy the experience, mostly come out unhappy with the cut and cant really justify the cost to myself for something I dont enjoy or really appreciated.

I am graduating on Wednesday and needs to wear my hair down really and it needs to be cut.

Please tell me I am not alone in this?

I love beauty treatments and could have them all day, its just haircuts 😑

I've never totally loved it, but I was lucky to have the same hairdresser for many years who knew exactly how I like it done, and we got to know a bit about each other without ever being super-best-friends, but there was no awkwardness.

Then from a combination of unfortunate factors she had to close her salon and I’m completely adrift having to find someone new who can cut my hair just the way I want. Add in that something awful is happening to my once-healthy, full head of hair and I’m in complete despair about how thin it’s getting……I can’t even begin to describe how stressful I’m finding it now ☹️

(oh, and I loathe having to see myself in the mirror, so there’s that too)

I hate the whole experience
i especially hate the ‘what are we doing today?’ Conversation or the ‘how do you want it ?’
I mean I’m sat in the hairdressers chair with the bib on having booked a trim/ cut or whatever Obviously I’m there for a haircut and I want it cut.

never really know what answer they’re expecting ..

Well yeah, because Mumsnet is full of individuals who all hate different things that most people are bothered by.

Think about it properly, I bet theres at least one perfectly normal activity that's just part of life that you absolutely loathe doing.

Well, how about we unpick that lot just for one moment?

The basis of some of this for those lucky enough to have reached their 4th decade and beyond, is being utterly tired of bullshit, that we didn't realise was bullshit (or even a thing) when we were younger.

(Hates having a hair cut)

Reasons: bored with the hours it seems to take when a proficient mobile hairdresser is in and out in half an hour. The endless waiting while others are seen to. 5 quid or more for a coffee. Conversations with no point or desire to share personal details. A ridiculous bill in 3 figures. Neck ache in the bowl. A spouse that shakes his head incredulously at the price. Having to overhear spiteful or bitchy conversations. The embarrassment all round of tipping in the 21st century. Being pressured to book next appointment when you have zero idea of your movements several months from now.

(Hates answering the phone)

Sick of spammers, cold callers, salesmen, people you don't especially like but have to deal with politely for the benefit of people you love. Fake ambulance / accident calls. Exhausting people who refuse to end conversations.

(Hates answering the door)

Tired of chancers trying their luck to fleece you for gutter cleaning while flinging slates off your roof. Tired of putting your name to endless deliveries for neighbours who don't come and collect their parcels. Sick of religious door knockers putting on the nicey act, who you know from family experience encourage shunning and excluding family and friends. If you live in London, or some other cities, the very real chance of someone with a knife demanding entry or a hit of acid in your face. Fake charity chuggers.

(Hates weddings)

Mainly the grabbiness, entitlement, stupidity and expense of hen weeks abroad. Hours left to fill with no food, drink or entertainment 'coz photos'. People being their cringiest, stingiest, or most aggressive / batshit selves.

(Hates driving)

I really loved driving. Into classic cars, the lot. Hate parking scammers, fake q codes, 20mph for no reason, idiotic smart motorway death traps, people on drugs behind the wheel, insurance scammers who drive into you, scam moped drivers looking for compo, the extortionate insurance companies, people looking to steal your car if you leave it more than an hour anywhere, congestion charging 24hrs, Ulez bullocks, the goalposts ever- changing.

I like it but only because I found a great hairdresser who actually listens to what I would like and makes suggestions before she does anything.

She has always shown me options from Instagram and at this stage knows what I like and don't like.

When I move house, I tried numerous hairdressers before I found one I like. Can you ask a friend who knows you well to recommend one?

I love this!

In the small market town where we live there are 7! nairdressing salons.
Over a three year peiod, I have tried and tested each one.
I would not return to any of them.

I used to feel like this but I've got the hang of it now.

I go to a unisex place where you can walk in no appointment and it's cheap. Then I say I never have any time/inclination to spend on my hair (I used to blame this on having small children, but I just say it outright now) and I want something I don't have to do anything to. Then aside from those two things, I say do whatever you think would suit my face.

In general it's always been great when I do this. You have to let them know how short you're happy to go. I'm generally fine with it being short so I say that.

I hate it. 😂 It’s the fussing over me and the boring mindless small talk. I started cutting my own hair during lockdown though and haven’t been back since!

I've disliked( not hated) having my hair cut since forever.
It's just something that you have to do to look presentable.

I find every hair stylist lately gives a good haircut--- first time.
Second, not as good, third time, forget it.

Next stylist ( at the same chain) first cut, excellent, called her to say how much I loved it, she was pleased, said to take photos.

Second visit, looked at photos, again said how much I liked it, and I got a disaster cut for my hair type, think cowlick bouncing up everyday and one side having to have hairclips for 6 weeks to keep out of my face/eyes.

And yes, I did tip well ( though regretted tipping the second & last, time).

My sister said the same, layers perfect 'first time' ( a different stylist, same place)

Second time, same stylist, was complimented on first haircut, got one not as nice.
Third time, layers on the outside instead of light, interior layers, so not nice at all.
No going back for a 4th time.

Are hairstylists getting lazy?

They want to showcase their talent on 1st cut, then dumb it down and think you'll be satisfied with less ?
Any hairstylist out there care to offer a reason for this self-defeating trend?
Wonder how many glowing reviews for a first cut resulted in subsequent visits?

I just feel uncomfortable. I don't enjoy the experience at all so I have to grin and bear it, but only for special occasions now, the rest of the time I cut and style it myself. I wear my hair up mostly as it is just below shoulder length when down. That kind of suits my face, and it is so easy to make a basic look transform into a "dressed up" look with fancy combs/claws, a bit of back combing and the like. Easy for me to do myself.

It's when it's down it's a problem. Doesn't want to do what I expect it to do, i.e. sit properly!

Covid killed any desire to ever go to the hair salon anymore unless I absolutely have to. I always feel I look so bloody UGLY in the salon mirror, I just want to curl up and die sometimes. It helps though that I use hearing aids, so there is next to no mindless convo at least. I hate the tipping ritual also, too little, too much, what's right, will they care, will they be raging and so on. So the whole experience just puts me right off.

For my next obligatory trip (not by choice), which is for a wedding, I'm going to try a small local "mature ladies" tiny salon. I rang them and they said no problem to cut and style my shoulder length hair, or to give me a nice up do, and to bring a pic. Now that's nice and hopeful! BTW I use bluetooth on my hearing aids for phone calls in case you thought I was fibbing about that!

Me. I've not been to a hairdresser in about 14 years.
I hate the way they wash my hair.
I hate the way they comb my hair.
I hate all the silly small talk chit chat.
And then you're expected to pay 40-50 quid for the privilege 🙄
I cut it myself, sometimes just ask the kids to make sure it's even.

I find hair cuts stressful but now I can book a no small talk appointment things are much easier.

I don't usually like it, I have curly hair, had too many bad cuts and I always feel out of place and awkward

Found a curl specialist and I LOVE him. There's a dog, nice coffee, he asks if you want to sit facing the mirror or not, and he sits down with you to talk rather than standing over you
Plus my hair looks great

I don’t like it either; the chairs are uncomfortable, the social pressure to be chatty when I just want to be quiet, the fact that it takes hours (cut and bleach), the way they try and make it super smooth and straight when I repeatedly tell them that I like it messy.

To make it worse I left one because the length of an appointment was getting longer and longer and she just moaned about her health and ex husband, I went to another hairdresser and now I’ve spotted that the original hairdresser now works at the new salon and I don’t know how to deal with the social awkwardness

I hate going to the hairdressers. I go roughly once a year but have left it as long as 3 years in the past. The last couple of times I've been to someone very local who will let me wash it at home and go out with it wet. My hair is naturally curly and I don't like it blow dried.

Also I hate the chat.

I dislike it too.

I have blonde highlights done and it takes ages and they faff and primp it. It's just annoying it takes so much time.

And my last cut and colour cost €218. I never fell over. Time to find a new hairdresser.

I used to dislike going, but could tolerate it as saw it as just one of those things that you do to have decent hair. The discomfort of the hair-washing, the capey thing, the mirror throughout. When I realised about 12 years ago that cutting it yourself was no big deal if you have the sort of hair that cooperates, I've just done it at home. Nothing complicated though, trims every few months, sometimes I cut loads off if I get bored, layers and fringes.

I hate it too. Its not just the small talk for its the fact I have to take my glasses off and Im blind as a bat without them!
Its really unsettling to have somebody around your neck with a sharp implement when you cant see them. Also trying to make small talk when you cant see somebody's expression is awkward and of course you have no idea what your hair is looking like until you get asked and can put your glasses on to check!

I did recently go though just to see if it was worth it....answer-no!
I have a shortish (midneck) length bob with fringe and TBH it looked no better then when I cut it myself at home!

You are not alone. I hate them too.
Think it's a combination of the smell and having to sit still.

Someone upthread mentioned 5 squid for a coffee?
Unheard of to be charged (for an instant coffee) in the type of friendly locals I go to to.
Reminds me of going to a hairdressing college to get a very cheap hairdo Accepting a coffee, sipping and chatting away.. and the embarrassing moment the young girl had to tell me it needed to be paid for before she could carry on 😳

You are not alone. I hate it too. I also can't stand the small talk.

If you don't like small talk take a book. It really isn't difficult to say to the hairdresser "if you don't mind, I would rather read my book", or "I don't really feel like talking today".

A good hairdresser will "get" it.

Mn =

Hates having a hair cut
Hates answering the phone
Hates answering the door
Hates fireworks
Hates going to weddings
Hates trick or treaters
Everyone's anxious about everything
Hates driving
Hates baby showers with a passion
Hates having people in their house
Hates men

I have ADHD and can’t sit still that long, also hate the small talk. I go annually!